VIGIL CONSILIUMSearch
Context. Not headlines.
Conflict coverage · Iran–Gulf

United States and Israeli strikes on Iran open the war

28 Feb 2026Key eventEssential

MilitaryWeapons deliveries

A large-scale United States and Israeli strike campaign against Iran begins. The Congressional Research Service records more than ten thousand targets struck in Iran by 25 March, and reports the operation's cost as exceeding $11.3bn in its first six days — a figure it notes excludes many associated costs. Iranian retaliation against Israel, United States facilities and Gulf states begins the same day.

Why it mattersThe physical opening of the current campaign, and the date from which every other 2026 record in this module is measured. No authorisation for the use of military force was obtained, and measures directing the removal of United States forces were rejected in both congressional chambers in March.
Confidence: HighSources: Congressional Research Service — Iran, the Gulf and the Strait of HormuzMethodologyCorrections

See this event in the timeline Interactive: select this record and follow what connects to it.

Related structure

6 records that this event names, or that name it. Every one is an explicit reference in a published record — nothing here is inferred from subject matter.

Part of

Campaigns whose record places this event inside them.

Actors

Actor records this event names.

Participants

Organisations this event records, with the role and confidence it states.

Where this fits

This is one entry in the Iran–Gulf timeline. The full Key Events surface carries every dated turning point with its filters and its essential subset, and this event in place shows what came before and after it. How Vigil grades, dates and sources its claims is set out in the methodology.